Newport IW climbed to within 1 place of the play-offs with victory over Frimley Green at WightFibre Park this afternoon (Saturday).
Port produced a strong 2nd-half performance to overcome the Surrey side in front of 453 spectators, with pacey winger Connor Kelly proving a particular menace to the visiting defence.
Before kick-off, WightFibre Park observed a minute’s applause in memory of Newport legend Darren ‘Daz’ Powell and club historian Peter Ranger.
Darren, who died on Wednesday aged 44, was Port’s record appearance holder, making 585 appearances and scoring 73 goals during an 18-year association with the club. Peter chronicled Newport’s history and was the author of the club’s centenary history, Newport (I.O.W.) Football Club: The First Hundred Years 1888–1988.
Newport were the first to threaten in the 8th minute when Kelly fired across the face of goal. The Frimley goalkeeper could only parry his effort and was fortunate that the loose ball did not quite fall for the lurking Ji Nash.
Nash was involved again just a minute later, trying his luck from distance but sending his effort wide as Port looked to make their promising start count.
The breakthrough arrived in the 15th minute. Kelly supplied the cross and captain Macca Watterson was waiting in the middle of the penalty area to finish and put Newport ahead (1-0).
Port had opportunities to increase their advantage. Jordan Browne found himself in a promising position in the 25th minute but shot wide, while Nash was also unable to find the target 3 minutes later.
Newport were made to pay for those missed chances in the 36th minute when Frimley Green found an equaliser, a header beating Pitman to bring the visitors level (1-1).
Half Time: Newport IW 1-1 Frimley Green
Frimley threatened to turn the game on its head shortly after the restart, with Pitman forced into an excellent save in the 49th minute to prevent the visitors from taking the lead.
Newport responded, with Kelly’s pace continuing to cause problems for the Frimley back line. A stumble by the visiting goalkeeper almost allowed the winger through in the 57th minute, but Kelly shot wide.
Four minutes later, he was in the thick of the action again, this time firing over the crossbar as Port pressed to regain the lead.
The breakthrough finally arrived in the 65th minute courtesy of a superb piece of individual play from Nash. The Newport attacker weaved in and out of the Frimley defence before getting his shot away, with the ball taking a deflection on its way into the net (2-1).
Frimley remained within a goal as the contest moved into its closing stages, but Kelly finally put the result beyond doubt in the 2nd minute of injury time.
The winger timed his run perfectly to beat the offside trap before racing into the penalty area. With the goalkeeper advancing, Kelly kept his composure and lifted the ball over him and into the far corner to complete Port’s 3-1 victory.
Full Time: Newport IW 3-1 Frimley Green
Newport IW: Pitman, Grace, Linington, Hancott, Watterson (c), Tompsett, Nash, Walsh, Browne, Young, Kelly. Subs: Catania, Myram, Conway, Benford, Egerton-Read.
Attendance: 453
Man of the Match: Mike Tompsett.
The victory lifts Newport to 6th in Wessex Division One and just 1 place outside the play-off positions. Port have collected 16 points from only 7 games, an average of 2.29 points per match, and have between 3 and 5 games in hand on every side above them.
